Scientists may have discovered the exact cause of morning sickness, the nausea and vomiting that often accompanies pregnancy — and with the discovery, better treatment options could be on the horizon.
Researchers from the University of Southern California and University of Cambridge found the hormone GDF15 is produced in the placenta and a mother’s sensitivity to it determines how severe sickness will be. The study was published Wednesday in Nature.
While previous research has linked GDF15 to these symptoms, the latest study shows women who are exposed to lower levels of the hormone before pregnancy experience more severe symptoms.
We now know that women get sick during pregnancy when they are exposed to higher levels of the hormone GDF15 than they are used to, Marlena Fejzo, a clinical assistant professor of population and public health sciences in the Center for Genetic Epidemiology at the USC’s Keck School of Medicine and the paper’s first author, said in a news release.
While there have been treatments to help the symptoms of morning sickness, this research opens doors to potential avenues for solving the underlying cause.
With the study’s findings in mind, researchers suggest there are two possible routes for helping: Lowering GDF15, or exposing the person to GDF15 prior to pregnancy in order to prepare them for elevated levels of the hormone once pregnant.
This study provides strong evidence that one or both of those methods will be effective in preventing or treating hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe morning sickness, Fejzo said.
Pre-exposing someone to the hormone would have to be done safely and slowly in a way that doesn’t make them feel miserable, explains University of Cambridge’s professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, who was also part of the study. Then we can, we hope, reduce the risk of them developing hyperemesis in the pregnancy.
A potential cure could help the 70 to 80% of pregnant people who experience morning sickness, which despite its name, can happen at any point of the day.
Most women with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy have symptoms in the first trimester or first three months of pregnancy, but a small percentage of women experience prolonged symptoms up until delivery.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is extreme or severe morning sickness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and refers to persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that occurs in about 0.3 to 2% of all pregnancies.
Severe cases can lead to weight loss and dehydration, and may require intensive treatment, according to the CDC.
For Charlotte Howden, experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy with her son seven years ago was a living hell, she told CBS News.
Vomiting up to 30 times a day. I couldn’t eat anything, she described. It got really serious for me when I was unable to keep water down anymore.
The discovery of GDF15’s role in morning sickness brings hope for potential cures and improved treatment options. Lowering GDF15 levels or pre-exposing individuals to the hormone prior to pregnancy could potentially prevent or alleviate the severity of hyperemesis gravidarum.
The study’s findings, published in Nature, reveal that women experience more severe symptoms of morning sickness when they are exposed to higher levels of the hormone GDF15 than they are accustomed to. This new understanding paves the way for targeted interventions to address the underlying cause of morning sickness.
Marlena Fejzo, a clinical assistant professor of population and public health sciences at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, and the lead author of the study, emphasizes the potential impact of these findings on the development of effective treatments.
This study provides strong evidence that one or both of those methods will be effective in preventing or treating hyperemesis gravidarum, Fejzo stated.
However, researchers caution that any pre-exposure to GDF15 would need to be administered safely and gradually to avoid causing discomfort or distress.
Hyperemesis gravidarum affects around 0.3 to 2% of all pregnancies and can lead to severe complications such as weight loss and dehydration. While existing treatments can alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness, the discovery of GDF15’s involvement offers hope for targeted therapies that address the root cause.
Charlotte Howden, a mother who experienced hyperemesis gravidarum during her pregnancy, expressed her agony, calling it a living hell. Howden’s condition deteriorated to the point where she couldn’t even keep water down.
If further research confirms the efficacy of modulating GDF15 levels, it could potentially benefit the 70 to 80% of pregnant individuals who experience morning sickness.
The study’s findings underline the significance of understanding the hormonal triggers behind morning sickness and offer a promising path for the development of better treatments. By tackling the root cause, researchers hope to alleviate the suffering of countless pregnant individuals and mitigate the impact of severe morning sickness.
While there is still much work to be done, this breakthrough discovery offers a glimmer of hope for a future where debilitating morning sickness may be a thing of the past.
